How to cast your ballot in the March 2026 Illinois primary

To cast Your Ballot in the Illinois March 2026 Primary Election: Know the Deadlines, Registration Process, and Voting Options

Illinois residents, it's time to prepare for another election season. The state general primary is just around the corner, with polling stations opening on March 17th. To ensure you can exercise your right to vote, it's essential to know the key dates, registration requirements, and available voting options.

**Important Dates:**

* February 5th: First day to vote early or by mail
* February 12th: Early voting starts at downtown Chicago supersite and Chicago Board of Elections office
* February 18th: In-person voter registration and voting at election authority sites begin
* March 1st: Last day for online voter registration
* March 2nd: 50 ward early voting sites open in Chicago
* March 12th: Last day for election authorities to receive vote-by-mail applications
* March 17th: Primary Election Day, with polls opening at 6:00 AM and closing at 7:00 PM

**Registering or Checking Your Current Registration Status:**

To register to vote online, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections' website. You can also register on the same day you cast your ballot during early voting or on Election Day.

If you're not registered, bring two forms of ID or proof of residency (such as a passport, driver's license, lease, or mortgage) with at least one item listing your current address.

You can check your voter registration status online on the state's website or on the Chicago Board of Elections' website.

**Voting Early In Person:**

Early voting sites open in different locations across the state. Check the websites for DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County, McHenry County, and Will County to find out when and where you can cast your ballot early.

**Voting by Mail:**

Apply now to receive your ballot through the mail, with a deadline of March 12th. You must apply to vote by mail through your local election authority. Your ballot must be postmarked or placed in a dropbox by Election Day for it to count. Joining the vote-by-mail permanent roster requires applying again during the upcoming election.

**Voting on Election Day:**

Chicago voters can cast their ballots at the voting supersite, early voting location, or look up your local polling place online.

**What to Remember While Voting:**

* Ballots in other languages are available for Chicago and Cook County polling locations.
* Bring notes, sample ballots, and endorsements with you into a polling booth.
* You can bring children with you to vote.
* If you're blind, physically disabled, or unable to read/write, ask an election judge, friend, family member, or another voter for help completing your ballot.
* Illinois prohibits "ballot selfies," but you can take and post selfies with your "I Voted" sticker.

voting in the 2026 primary is like a big test to see who's got the skills , gotta make sure u r registered & know the deets . illinois residents have till feb 5th 2 vote early or by mail , then its Feb 12th early voting starts in chicago . don't be late tho, march 1st is the last day 2 register online . u can check ur registration status online or at ur local election authority site . early voting sites r poppin up all over the state . and dont forget 2 bring ur id & proof of residency when u vote in person . #votingmatters #illegalsprimary

omg have u ever tried those weird flavors of ice cream that come out in the summer? like, i had this one strawberry cheesecake flavor last week and it was literally so good i think they should make more unique flavors instead of just chocolate and vanilla all the time... or what if we could get some foodie trucks at the polling stations for voting day? that way we can fuel up on snacks while we're casting our ballots

omg u guys need 2 register 2 vote in illinois by march 1st if u wanna vote online or at an early voting site - make sure u bring ur id & proof of residency btw, voting is like, super important

so many dates to remember for the illinois primary election in march 2026 what's weird is that voting by mail has a specific deadline, march 12th but i'm not sure why we need it since you can apply again during the next election and isn't it convenient that you can bring children with you to vote?

omg voting is like soooo important in the US 50 states have to choose a new president every 4 years and it's crazy how much of an impact one person can have on the country i just wish they had online registration for all states already it's such a pain to have to go to different locations and fill out forms. also, voting by mail is so cool but you have to apply early or it won't count

so they're making it easy for us to vote by mail now and you can even check your registration status online its good that we can bring our kids with us to the polling booth too gotta love that! i'm not sure about these early voting sites though 50 ward sites in chicago sounds like a lot, how are they gonna make it efficient? and what's up with ballot selfies anyway, more ppl should vote lol

I was just thinking about trying out that new coffee shop downtown... have you guys tried it? I went there last weekend and had a really great cappuccino, but the line was super long . Anyway, voting by mail in Illinois, huh? I don't think I've ever done that before... does anyone else in our state do it often? I should probably get my ballot in early just to make sure .

so I think it's kinda interesting that they're extending the early voting period to include 50 ward sites in Chicago, which is a big deal for people who want to make sure their voices are heard. But what really gets me is how much hassle it can be to register and check your status online - like, why do we need two forms of ID and proof of residency just to vote? Can't we simplify the process without sacrificing security? And I'm also wondering if anyone's thought about implementing a universal mail-in ballot option for Illinois residents, considering how convenient it is. It'd be super convenient for people with busy schedules or disabilities, you know?

omg i feel like voting is getting so much easier now lol they're making it super accessible for everyone to register and cast their ballots. like, online registration is a game changer! and early voting sites are popping up all over the state - it's gonna be a breeze for people who can't make it to the polling stations on election day. i just hope everyone gets out and uses their right to vote

I don’t usually comment but I think it’s wild how they got a whole page explaining voting options like we all knew that info beforehand lol. It’s just 5 years in advance, right? And what’s up with the "ballot selfies" thing? Like, who even takes a photo of themselves casting their ballot ?

omg u guys are finally getting ready for the primary elections in illinois i'm kinda excited to see who's gonna run against each other but at the same time its all about making sure everyone has a chance to vote so like make sure u register and check ur status online cuz march 1st is literally the last day to do so don't wanna be stuck in line on election day, fam! also early voting starts feb 12th, so that's a thing too

Ugh, great, just what we need, more elections to deal with... March 2026 already? It feels like just yesterday we were voting for the last one... Anyway, Illinois residents are all set to head out and vote, but I mean, who gets excited about voting, right?

So, it's February already and the registration process is starting. Like, can't we just skip this step altogether? "Bring two forms of ID or proof of residency" - what if you don't have those? What if you're a foreigner? Doesn't anyone check these things anymore?

And early voting sites are popping up all over the state. Because, of course, we need more places to vote. It's not like people can't make it to one place... I mean, who needs convenience when you have lines and crowds, right?

Oh, and don't forget to bring your "I Voted" sticker selfie... Because, priorities.